one click (or clip) away from free

My soccermom-ish tendencies, as I like to call them, astound me by the day as I find myself doing things I never thought I would do. Point and case: rambling on and on about the thrill of saving money with coupons.

Coupon clipping isn’t too soccermom-ish, is it?

I like discounts. Even more than discounts, I like free things. If you were asked, “Would you like to get this at a discount, or would you like it for free?” of course you would say, “For free!” Who wouldn’t? It doesn’t get any better than free. (Unless of course the seller decides for some unknown reason to pay you. If you learn how to pull off this bargaining trick, let me in on it.)

All this to say, it’s not that hard to find discounts or, yes, sometimes even freebies by searching online and in magazines, newspapers, etc. I’m still new at it, and saved more than $15 at the grocery store this week alone. Oh, yea. (One free bag of wheat flour? I’ll take it!)

the challenge

Start a blog about your money-saving tactics and excursions. Give insider advice on saving money for just about anything. Review coupon websites, tell us the best coupon magazines to subscribe to, lead us to the best stores. What’s the deal with Groupon? How do you double coupons? Is it worth it to join a library coupon swap group?

possible blog names

• CouponMe
• CoupForChicks
• GreyCoupon (maybe if your last name is Grey, or Mustard)
• GetYourCoupOn

summer, meet my bucket list

the summer bucket list

Tomorrow is the first official day of summer. Summer, ahh. A great time for swimming, tanning, reading, playing, yardsaling, taking trips, and . . . bucket-listing.

Summer is one of those rare times of the year when you just might have enough time to do some of those things you never have time to do during the other three seasons of the year. So celebrate by starting a blog that documents your undertakings to check off the items on your bucket list.

example blog

Bucket List Publications

 

blog posts without any pictures

Right now, I’m camera-less. It’s torturous, nearly. Beautiful summer sunset, new items to sell on eBay, the heightening lettuce in my first garden – I can’t snap shots of any of them. What’s a (at-least-I-pretend-to-be-a) photographer to do? Remind me never to lose my camera again.

But really, it is a time of confession. When I first started blogging, I had my own camera. For a few months. I was always on the lookout for blog-worthy photos to complement my posts. Then I lost it (Take this sentence in every meaning possible.). Ever since, it’s been downhill. Yes, I borrowed my housemate’s camera, but it’s not the same. And recently, I feel increasingly guilty that I haven’t returned it to her yet. I probably should . . .

This all leads me to a little preachiness on the importance of having excellent pictures to go along with your blog posts. I really can’t say enough about it. Honestly, every time I write one of those “the challenge” sections, I end up saying something to the effect of “Include pictures of your _______.” (Fill in the blank with whatever random concept I’m telling you to start a blog about.)

I could say some pithy quote about pictures being worth a 1000 words, but honestly my reasoning is just that people like to look at pictures. Even as adults, we’d rather feast our eyes on books, webpages, instruction manuals, etc. that are filled with illustrations rather than settle for dry, word-only content.

So there you have it. What, did you expect me to include a picture or something?

“fish [and other adorable pets] are friends”

“Fish are friends, not food.” We remember when the indecisive shark in Finding Nemo said this, and it was a bit hard for him to live up to the deep truth he spoke. But not for us. Fish are our friends! They can be the most genial of friends, undemanding and pleasantly reserved (Communication barriers don’t have to be viewed as all that bad.).

Click if you want this one.

But they aren’t our only friends. No, there all the other adorable pets we’ve grown so fond of in our many years of pet ownership. Perhaps you are the well-seasoned “cat woman” of your neighborhood, housing a range of 10-20 animals (mostly cats) on any given day. Or maybe you’re the more well-rounded owner of a few normal pets mixed in with the occasional exotic creature like a lizard or tarantula. Or perhaps you are the less experienced, naive individual with limited pet access in your life’s history.

Wherever you fall in the pet-keeping range, perhaps you are considering getting a new pet soon? I myself must admit that I’ve given it some consideration. Lots of consideration. Okay, I admit to browsing the “Pets” page on Craigslist every few . . . days (Maybe hours, but let’s not get technical.).

Puppies. Kittens. Bunnies. Chinchillas (Really?). Ferrets. Iguanas. Who can resist browsing these pet posts and photos?

the challenge

Get a new pet. It could be one you’ve never had before, or an old favorite. Start a blog about your time with and care for this pet. Have the frequent photo opp. Pose funny pictures. Share stories and adventures.

Please tell me why this picture was a result when I searched for “turtle eating lettuce.” Someone didn’t get the memo about fish being friends.

possible blog names

• TheDoInDog
• MyTurtleIsFasterThanYours
• AlfredTheHamster
• WannaIquana

branching out, blogging on

Dear fellow bloggers and blog readers,

There comes a time in every blogger’s life when he or she feels stuck in a blogging rut. All the posts are the same, only slightly different. As a result, blog posts get fewer and far between-er (Is it correct to say that? Oh well.). Such has been the course of events for this blogger.

So I have to ask myself: Why? When I first began writing on Startablogabout, I tried to limit myself from posting every half hour, for the sake of all the blog readers that might get tired of blog update emails inundating their inboxes. It was mere compassion, really.

Today, I feel … not short of ideas, but short of a sort of blogging-inspiration. Now, you must know, dear bloggers, how many times I have fought the urge to abandon ship and start a new blog. Remember my confession from day one? It has been quite difficult. It’s been as hard as telling yourself not to open the cabinet and eat those delicious chocolate chip cookies stored within.

But dear bloggers, I won’t give up if you won’t give up! I know that this is just the common human experience that we all face in the blogosphere. Instead of starting a new blog, I will try to find some ways to revamp this one. I’ll branch out.

It’s time to branch out.

I will be trying out some new sorts of posts, instead of always that predictable pattern of 1) Here’s something cool about something. 2) Hey, someone should start a blog about this. 3) They could name it ___________ (insert cheesy titles that I brainstorm). Some new types of posts might include general blogging ideas – such as how to choose a blog name; shoutouts to new blog starters; plugs for some great blogs out there; and, who knows, maybe even something else that’s crazy and unheard of. Any suggestions?

I look forward to branching out and blogging on, dear readers. Thanks for sticking with me!

do it yourself (DIY) projects

How I admire those handy Renaissance men and women who can do things themselves. They can make a lamp out of three toothpicks and a light bulb, a lawnmower out of some pipes and a blade, a glove out of half a spool of thread and a dull needle. It’s miraculous, really. And in consideration of practically impractical people like me, they share these DIY projects on the Internet. Hooray!

Of course, I really enjoy DIY projects for a few reasons. One is that I’d like to consider myself thrifty. Economical is the way to go. So if I can use an old worn out t-shirt to make a trendy scarf instead of having to buy a new scarf, then of course I will. Or if I can use hundreds of egg cartons to improve the sound in a room instead of buying expensive equipment, then of course I will (Even though that means I’ll have to eat a lot of eggs. Good thing there are so many ways to cook them.). And then there’s . . .

Okay, so that’s the main reason that I like DIY, but also, getting to try out fun projects helps me gain skills. Yea, practical skills (After you graduate with an English degree and start looking for jobs, you feel a little impractical.) – like using a heavy duty wire cutter to make a leaf wreath. Sounds skillful, right?

Want a leaf wreath? DIY!

the challenge

Start a blog of DIY projects. Showcase all the things you learn how to do. Share what you already know. Include pictures and easy steps for readers.

possible blog names

• WhyDoIDIY
• LetsDIYtogether
• WireCuttingAndOtherSkills
• DIYorBust

bargains into wares

There’s something I should confess: I am a buyer of books. I glean thrift stores of rare, old, dusty books. You see shelves, I see a deserted island with certain hidden treasure under some lot of ground.

This hobby began a few years ago. I started buying books at thrift stores and reselling them online, namely, on eBay. They may be books on subjects from Indian basket weaving to pipe organ stops – subjects I know little to nothing about. But they are rare finds, small treasures to the discerning eye. I’ve enjoyed finding them, buying them, and turning my bargains into wares.

See some of my recent discoveries:

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the challenge

Start a blog about your bargains into wares. Maybe you buy and sell old cars, books, music, garage sale finds, kitchen appliances, furniture. Whatever your specialty, share your adventures. Maybe this could be a blog that accompanies your eBay or other account and helps potential buyers learn more about your products.

a commentary on Fresh Pressed

Bloggers are like people. Well, in most cases, they are people when you think about it. At least, I like to think so. There are occasional moments when I stumble across those captivating blogs of seemingly larger-than-life people with extraordinary lives. Or, I don’t know, maybe I’m the odd one out. Does everyone just happen to travel to Norway and Cambodia every day, take breathtaking photos, and then upload them to their photo blog for everyone to drool over? (No offense, Casey Arneson. I really just needed an excuse to sneak in a link to your incredible work.) It sure seems like it when you scroll through Fresh Pressed, doesn’t it?

I admit, sometimes Fresh Pressed makes me feel that my life is hypo-ordinary.

Some bloggers have ordinary or perhaps even hypo-ordinary lives, that is lives that are less than ordinary and which can seem to be made a bit more ordinary, at least momentarily, in experiencing the thrill of coining new words (as was recently demonstrated through my use of the word hypo-ordinary). But what makes a blogger’s life or experiences or posts the coveted Fresh-Press-worthy?

the challenge

Start a blog that is a commentary on WordPress’s Freshly Pressed. Make observations about the posts. Why do you think a certain post made it on the homepage? What are some common trends in posts they choose to highlight? Do they refer to pop culture, feature amazing photography, include corny jokes?

possible blog names

• FreshPressMe
• FreshPressDontMess
• BestofFreshPress
• FreshCommentary

words you mispelled / misspelled / mispeled (?)

We all have that list of sneaky words we always seem to misspell (Don’t forget the two s’s and two l’s.). Spelling these words correctly seems quite (not quiet) elusive, and despite our better judgment (Although the word judge has an “e” at the end, the word judgment is e-less.), we continue to spell them, albeit accidentally, in an unacceptable fashion. Each time, we are conscious (“aware”) of a little voice – a little wordsmith conscience, if you will – pleading within us to become better spellers. 

Surely our poor habits are changeable (Keep the “e.”)! We must discipine (“sc”) ourselves and avoid the harsh embarressment (I myself had to look that one up.) of misspellings. Perhaps we can acquire (which is different from “a choir”) tricks and mnemonic (Don’t you love silent m’s?) devices to help us remember the right spellings. Or perhaps we can spend exhilirating hours in spelling bees, eventually exceeding our own expectations. Perhaps if reading the dictionary is not foreign to us but rather a hobby for our time of leisure (no “z”) then we will guarantee much spelling success for all our days!

Be advised (versus adviced – Is that even a word?). We may not see noticeable (Notice the “e” before the “a.”) results immediately. Occasionally (Argh. I spelled this one incorrectly at first.), there will still be occurrences (double “c” and double “r”) of misspelled words, whether (as opposed to weather) we like it or not. But I strongly recommend that you persevere and experience the personal privilege of spelling correctly.

the challenge

Start a blog that documents your growth as a speller. Initial entries may include samples of your writing at present, as well as a list of words that you struggle to spell correctly. Use later posts to share experiences of spelling correctly and incorrectly. Perhaps take note of when you see misspellings in the world at large.

possible blog names

• CastingSpells
• StellarSpeller
• OneLetterAtATime
• TheDictionaryIsMyFriend

the name of the game: names

There are several conversations that are almost unavoidable when two individuals meet one another for the first time. The name conversation is one of these.

Dear parents, think about the name conversation when picking out that lifelong title for your tot.

Now sometimes, both people have pretty normal names. In this case, the name conversation may not happen, or only to a mild degree, unless one person is for some reason unusually interested in etymology or, to be more exact, the origin of name meanings.

But other times, one person has a less common name and the other person notices and makes the same comments that every person makes about the less common name, but regardless, the person with the less common name decides to humor the common-name holder and pretend like that’s the first time anyone has said that. For example . . .

Howard: Hey, my name is Howard.

Virginia: It’s nice to meet you. I’m Virginia.

Howard: Virginia, that’s a pretty name. Isn’t that the name of a state?

(I’m sure she’s never heard that one before.)

Virginia: Yea, it’s the name of a state.

(She says, pretending she’s just learned something new about her name.)

Howard: I didn’t do that well in school. Where is it exactly?

(Why don’t Americans know geography? I’m guilty, too.)

Virginia: East of West Virginia.

Howard: Oh. That makes sense. (With sort of a chuckle.) So there are really two states named after you?

(“Oh, you’re clever,” Virginia thinks.)

Virginia: Well, I’m pretty sure they were named before me.

the challenge

Start a blog about names. Each day, post about names you’ve heard for the first time recently, your findings on the origins of the name, details, how you think the names describe the people you’ve met, etc. Or blog about your name. Document the things you learn about it. This could even turn into an ancestry project. Maybe you even hope to live up to your name? Blog about that and your efforts.

possible blog names

• TheNameoftheGame
• WhatsInAName
• LivingUpToMyName